International Football Association Board Give Live Football Trials The Go-Ahead

Football's lawmakers have given the green light for video technology with live trials to be introduced no later than the 2017-18 season. The International FA Board said the trials would cover game-changing decisions, notably questionable goals, sendings off, penalties and mistaken identity.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino told reporters at a news conference “We have taken a really historic decision for football. IFAB and FIFA are now leading the debate and not stopping the debate. We have shown we are listening to football and applying common sense. We have to be cautious but are taking concrete steps forwards to show a new era has started in FIFA and IFAB”.

IFAB say they have had interest in hosting live trials from 12 national associations and one confederation and will now go through a selection process as well as decide how the system will work.  IFAB also agreed several law changes including allowing referees to ban players taking the field if they are involved in tunnel bust-ups - and replace them with last-minute substitutes. 

It will come into effect on June 1 - before Euro 2016 and while one form of technology is on its way, another proved its worth as goal line technology correctly denied Tottenham striker Harry Kane a goal in the second half by the narrowest of margins.